Club Colombia AOS!

[parkpapa 0]

HELLO AOS COLOMBIA CLUB...I'm sooooo happy to join you on this leg of the Journey. This has been a long time coming for us and I can't express in words how happy we both are. I'm reading through your posts to catch up on everything. I'm putting our AOS package together this week and hope to have it in the mail by Monday, 11/26.

One question, have any of you had the opportunity to get a Social Security Card for you K3 spouse prior to recieving the EAD? I'm wondering how I can add Oscar to my bank account without the SS card?

Dre

Lorena's been here since June and I am still unable to put her on my bank account or my life insurance - because she has no SSN, and this is because she has no work permit. We filed for the work permit in July and that's taking a minimum of 12 weeks from what I hear.

[SHELLYandFCO 0]

How frustrating for you. My husband entered on a K-1 visa and was able to get a social security the following week, even before we married. He received his social security card a week later. Perhaps it is different in other states.

[parkpapa 0]

If anyone decides to apply separately for the EAD, you need to take whatever you read or hear from USCIS with a HUGE grain of salt. When we originally filed the I-765 in early July, the wait was listed as eight weeks. Lorena had her biometrics taken in early August and the guy there told her she'd have her work permit in "two or three weeks". After that deadline passed, I checked the USCIS website and it said (and still says) 11 weeks. This was, of course, after the fee increase and flood of applications. When I called USCIS in October (after the 11 week deadline), the lady told me not to call for at least six months!

Further review of the USCIS site yielded a message that said if your I-765 is more than 90 days old, you need to call USCIS immediately! So, I did that (again) last Monday. This time another lady told me that my petition was only 75 days old - she must be using the Mayan calendar - and that I needed to wait 15 days more before calling them back. On a whim - and because I was getting pi$$ed - I called again this past Wednesday. This time another young lady told me that my 75 days would be up on Friday (11/23/07) and I could call then. We had Thanksgiving plans, so I couldn't call.

Beware of how the USCIS counts. If you receive varying dates or number of days, use the one most favorable to you and call your Senator, write the CIS Ombudsman, and call the USCIS number. The USCIS is the only entity I know where 8 weeks = 11 weeks = six months = 90 days = 75 days. The simple fact of the matter is that the poor G-5s, or whatever payscale they're at, don't have a clue, and they are being told to just stall and stonewall anyone who calls. If you want something done, you need to bypass them.

Charles

[HAL 9000 96]

Hey gang, as of yesterday Maria's EAD and AP were approved at the National Service Center. Not bad... specially since we are taking our Christmas holiday NOW in Puerto Rico and we just got back from Plaza las Americas...

I hope to have the ability to help her get a 9-5 on campus with me so we can continue seeing more of each other all the time.

[Chester y Monica 2]

AOS packet enroute today.

The fee was painful -- given the fact of Christmas holidays, moving in to a two bedroom apartment, getting a used car for Monica next month.

Oh well... hopefully by Jan 2008 she has her EAD.

[HAL 9000 96]

A 2bd in SF?? OUCH!

Maria wants a MiniCooper... but she will first train on a fixer-upper first!

Thank goodness she has the potential to make a substantial salary in her field. Dedication to succeed is a must for our spouses. We should feel blessed that our significant others come from a country where hard work is the norm and now they will start reaping better benefits for their motivation.

[Scott n Yenifer 0]

AOS packet enroute today.

The fee was painful -- given the fact of Christmas holidays, moving in to a two bedroom apartment, getting a used car for Monica next month.

Oh well... hopefully by Jan 2008 she has her EAD.

Chester...I feel your pain...these things that you are going through I will be faced with soon.

Hope you guys are doing well!!! Merry Christmas!!!

[Scott n Yenifer 0]

A 2bd in SF?? OUCH!

Maria wants a MiniCooper... but she will first train on a fixer-upper first!

Thank goodness she has the potential to make a substantial salary in her field. Dedication to succeed is a must for our spouses. We should feel blessed that our significant others come from a country where hard work is the norm and now they will start reaping better benefits for their motivation.

Maviwaro,

How about OUCH to the Mini Cooper...those things aren't cheap!!! We'll be doing the fixer upper thing for Yenifer's first one too...and I'm thinking a stick because when we travel back to Colombia, that is almost all there is.

[HAL 9000 96]

A 2bd in SF?? OUCH!

Maria wants a MiniCooper... but she will first train on a fixer-upper first!

Thank goodness she has the potential to make a substantial salary in her field. Dedication to succeed is a must for our spouses. We should feel blessed that our significant others come from a country where hard work is the norm and now they will start reaping better benefits for their motivation.

Maviwaro,

How about OUCH to the Mini Cooper...those things aren't cheap!!! We'll be doing the fixer upper thing for Yenifer's first one too...and I'm thinking a stick because when we travel back to Colombia, that is almost all there is.

No kiddin!

Somehow, though, I see my wife as a big money maker in the next couple of years if not sooner. Same thing happened to one of her best friends... the minute she got off the plane she had under-the-table job offers and months later was making more than her husband. So, if I keep that logic going, it will be her making the mulah and me playing Raskingball (just kidding, but for a translation ask Yenifer)!

For now we'll head right out to the beach once again. Chicago awaits us on Sunday and there's still a little more Puerto Rican sun to absorb.

Happy Holidays to all

[Chester y Monica 2]

I'm proud of Monica, she can drive my 96 Ford Probe and it's a manual transmission car. Although, 2 plant boxes have suffered her wrath (she ran over them like speed bumps). She left the parking brake partially engage and I didn't notice it until I started smelling the rear brakes. My neck hurts a bit everytime she stalls the car. I have endured lots of honking from the cars behind us

On the bright side, she loves driving my F150 and keeps forgetting that it's an automatic. If you let go off the brake that truck will move. She keeps forgetting that.

Anyway - AOS packet received in Chicago yesterday.

Happy holidays!

Edited November 30, 2007 by Chester y Monica

[Scott n Yenifer 0]

I'm proud of Monica, she can drive my 96 Ford Probe and it's a manual transmission car. Although, 2 plant boxes have suffered her wrath (she ran over them like speed bumps). She left the parking brake partially engage and I didn't notice it until I started smelling the rear brakes. My neck hurts a bit everytime she stalls the car. I have endured lots of honking from the cars behind us

On the bright side, she loves driving my F150 and keeps forgetting that it's an automatic. If you let go off the brake that truck will move. She keeps forgetting that.

Anyway - AOS packet received in Chicago yesterday.

Happy holidays!

Chester...that's hilarious!!! I can see myself experiencing the same thing...hope I can be patient

[Mononoke28 135]

It's not that fun and hilarious while it's happening Scott, trust me on that. I'm going through the same thing with my husband and I'm getting a little frustrated with the whole rattle and shake moves he makes every time he drives our car.

Diana

[Scott n Yenifer 0]

Diana...I think if I only get a little frustrated when it's time for me to teach Yenifer, I will be way ahead of the game!!!

It's only funny when "someone else" is going through it...

[HAL 9000 96]

Oh C'mon folks!

I enjoy using empty parking lots to teach defensive driving!!!

[buck501 0]

We received the receipt notice I-797C, from USCIS, Lee Summit MO. yesterday for the I-131.........I-485 and the I-765. Man I sent it in a long time ago. They have it received on Nov. 18 and dated Nov. 27 as the notice date.

Driving..................I am going to hire someone to teach Paola. After traing 3 kids, shaving what must be years off my life doing so, I do not want to go through it. I will get a rig that has all four corners rounded off already for her to drive untill she gets all that out of her system. I am concerened about insurence cost going up with her playing bumber cars.